The government has chosen US security firm Entrust to provide authentication technology to boost the security of e-government transactions. Called the National Government Root, the new electronic communications system will use secure digital identification and encryption. The Root is a key part of the infrastructure needed to handle sensitive data such as tax and medical records online.
The system will be administered by the Communications Electronics Security Group (CESG), part of Government Communications Headquarters.
Entrust's technology behind the National Root certificate authority will provide a level of security designed to boost public confidence in the viability of online transactions.
Dr Steve Marsh of the Cabinet Office told delegates at the InfoSecurity Europe 2003 show that even though many fears of cyber-security vulnerabilities were little more than "hype", security had to be got right.
"Modern society depends critically on information systems, so it's essential that those systems are secure," he said.
John Doody, head of customer liaison at the CESG, said in a statement: "The creation of the National Root means that we now have the means to win the confidence of every user."
Bijan Khezri, chief executive of Baltimore Technologies, added that steps needed to be taken to bolster security for high-value online transactions.
"There's the potential for huge costs if steps are not taken," he warned.
"You can file a tax return using nothing more than a password; the bills could be big when the flaws in that system are revealed."
Quelle: Vnunet
